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(ModeL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. A. C. OAKS.

APPLE PARER, GORER, AND SLICER. I N0. 340,675. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

WITNESSES l/VVE/VTOH (ModeL) '4 Sheet8heet 2.

W. A. G. OAKS.

APPLE PARER, GORBR, AND SLIOER. No. 340,675. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

WITNESSES INVEA/TUI? WW g a!!! A By Aizorney N PETERS. HwHrLithogmpher. Wnnlnngwn. D. c.

(Mode1.-) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. A. G. OAKS.

APPLE PARER, GORER, AND SLIGER. No. 340,675. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

WITNESSES l/Vl/E/VTGH \JLM By i g f g m I a. mus Puma-W. NW D. 1;

(Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. A. G. OAKS.

APPLE PARER, COR-ER, AND SLIGER. No. 340,675. I Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

WITNESSES: MENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

WILLIAM A. O. OAKS, OF ANTRIM, NEYV HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODELL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

APPLE PARER, CCRER, AND SLICER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,675, dated April 27, 1886.

Application filed May 20, 1885. Serial No. 166,108.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM A. G. OAKS, of Antrim, county of Hillsborough, and State of New Hampshire, and a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Iniprovement in Machines for Faring, Goring, and Slicing Apples, of which the following is a full and completespecitication, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to produce a machine so constructed that while one apple is undergoing the operation of paring, coring, and slicing another apple can be placed upon the machine, ready to be acted upon when the first is completed, without stopping the revolution of the driving-wheel for an instant; in an improved quick-return motion for reciprocating knife carriage; in improved devices for pushing off the apple and the separated core; in an improved construction of the paringknife and its su iporting-rod, so that it has a double motion, to allow it to pass over irregularities on the surface of the apple; in a device for taking up the wear of the paring-knife bearings, in an improved coring and slicing knife so constructed as tobe evenly supported by the cut face of the apple, and to act as a push-off for the apple when pared, cored, and sliced. A

I am aware that a revolving reel with two or more forks is not new in apple-parers, as it is shown in United States Letters Patent granted to S. E. T. Dodson, dated August 4, 1874; but I obtain the rotation of my reel ina different manner, and have combined therewith devices for stopping its motion at the right point, looking it securely to prevent either forward or backward motion, and automatically releasing the reel at the right mo ment to present the next apple to the paringknife.

My push'off device for removing the core of the apple consists in a central push-oil rod inclosed in a hollow spindle, to which the fork is attached, and a cam or bent lever moving with a continuous rotary motion and at each revolution striking againstthe inner end of the push-off rod.

My improvement in the reciprocating knife- (Modem cirriage motion consists in a worm-wheel or endlessscrew gearing with a spur-wheel which has upon one side a numbrr of teeth cut away, those remaining gearing with a rack attached to the carriage and producing its motion during the cutting operation, and a system of links which act, while the blank space left by removing the teeth is passing over the racks, to effect a quick return. Four turns of the hand-crank completes the operation of paring, coring, and slicing an apple, and returns the knives to the proper position for the next apple. About three and one-quarter turns do the work, and-the remaining three-fourths of a revolution of the crank brings the carriage back to its starting point, thus saving much time.

My improvement in the paringknife con sists in so constructing it that it has in addition to the usual reciprocating motion with the carriage the rocking motion at the point of support and the alternate rotary motion of knife and carriage; also. a slight motion about the axis of the knife, adapting it to pass over any irregularity on the surface of an apple; and, secondly, in a wedge-shaped piece of metal, \V, which can be pushed under the heel of the kniferod, to take up the wear of the piv0tbearing, and thus keep the k uife adjusted to its work. This wedge is also used to adjust the knife to the proper distance from the fork.

My improvement in the coring and slicing knife consists in adding a projecting portion 'below the coring-point continuous with the upper portion of the blade. This part actsto steady the blade by pressing against the cut face of the apple equally both above and bclotv the center of the fork. and thus prevents any oblique strain bending the knife. By this means I can use a very thin-bladed knife and avoid the breaking of the spiral slices of the apple. \Vhen acting as a push-off, the press ure both above and below the center-line of the fork is especially desirable.

In the (lrawings,Figure1 is afront elevation of the complete machine. Figs. 2 and 8 are detailed views ofthe quick-returnmotion,looking at it from the back. In Fig. 2 it-is shown at the beginning ofthe return,and in Fig. 3 it is shown at the end of the return course, ready to begin on the cutting-stroke. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device for rotating the reel at proper intervals and releasing the latch. Fig. 5 is a side view of the bevel-wheel H, showing pawl and the ratchet-teeth which prevent the back ward motion of the reel. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the latch device for keeping the reel in place while the appleis being operated upon and releasing it when necessary. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views ofthe push-off device. Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively front and edge views of the paring, coring, and slicing knife. Fig. 11 is a view of the reel, looking endwise at the forks, showing driving-pinion,.fork-pinions, and also the position of the latch and the pushoif lever. Fig. 12 is a side view of one fork and its bearing and pinion. section to show the details of bearing. Figs. 13 and 14 are front and side elevations of the rack with which the wheel that operates the paringknife turntable gears. Fig. 15 is aplan view, looking upward, of the under side ofthe turntable which rotates the paring-knife. Fig. 16 is a plan view of the upper surface of the turntable, which operates the paring-knife. Fig. 17 is a detail view of the heel of the paringknife arm, showing the arrangement of parts to permit ofa slight motion about the axis of the knife-arm.

A represents a table.

The machine consists of two uprights, B B, to which are secured at the top a cross-frame, B Secured to this is a strap-bar, B for the bearings of one of the gear-wheels. A horizon tal shaft, 0, to which a crank and handle, 0, is attached, passes through the upper part of the frame. Upon this shaft is keyed a fast pulley, D, having teeth upon one-half the width ofits face, the other half being left plain for the belt when the machine is run by power.

E is a pulley running loosely on the same shaft. To this pulley the belt is shipped to stop themachine when it is operated by power.

The pulley D has cast upon it on one side a pinion, D,of twelve teeth,gearing with aspurwheel, G, of forty-eight teeth. This spurwheel has secured to one of its sides a segment of ten teeth, 9. This segment gears with a spur-wheel, H, of thirty-six teeth, integral with a bevel-wheel of forty-eight teeth, I, and both secured to a shaft, J. The pulleyD itself has seventy-five teeth.

The spur-wheelH carries with it the shaft J, which has a bearing in the uprights B B, and passes through the inner upright, B. To the end of the shaft J the reel is attached and rotated toward the knives one-third of a revolution for each complete revolution of the wheel G. A bevel-pinion, I, of sixteen teeth, gears with the bevel-wheel I, and carries with it v fork.

A pinion of fifteen teeth, M, gearing with the main wheel D,'is keyed to a shaft, M, to

Aportion is in the outer end of which is secured a pinion, M", of fifteen teeth, gearing in turn with pinions M", of like number of teeth, which are secured to each of the fork-spindles. -At the top of the frame a horizontal shaft, L, is fixed in suitable bearings and has secured to it a spurwheel, L, of fifteen teeth, which acts to drive the shaft L, and thereby rotates the endless screw L at its outer end, which endless screw gears with a spur-wheel, N, of twenty teeth, which in turn gears with a rack, O, forminga part of a carriage, P, sliding upon aguide-rod, P. Secured to the carriage is a slicing and coring knife,Q, adj ustabl y screwed to the downward-projecting part q of the carriage, and also the turn-table R,carrying the paring-knife R.

A bar, P, screwed tothe frame B, has teeth cut upon a portion of its inner vertical face,to produce the rotation of the turn-table R by means of a wheel with flat sides, It.

Back of the frame-plate B are a bent link, S, and a straight link, S pivoted together at S The link S is pivoted to the frame at 8?, and the link S is pivoted to the carriage at S. A crank, S, is secured to the same shaft upon which the spur-wheel N is fast, and in 'its rotation strikes, by means of the pin 8, against the curved face of the bent link S, and thus moves the carriage in the opposite direction from that produced by the action of the spurwheel N and rack 0. To permit of this movement in a reverse direction without reversing the direction of motion of the spur-wheel N, this spur-wheel N,though actually made in one piece, may be conceived to be made up of two wheels of equal diameter secured side by side upon the same axle, so as to turn together, the crank S also turning with them. One ofthese spur-wheels has twenty teeth,covering its entire circumference, and the other has corresponding teeth of equal pitch, but six of them are entirely cutaway. The first of these wheels is in gear with the endless screw U, which drives it, and the second wheel meshes with the teeth of the rack O, which is equalin width to this wheel only, and consequently is out of gear when the portion ofthe wheel from which the teeth are omitted is passing. During the portion of a rotation during which the cutaway portion of the wheel N is passing over the rack, the carriage is free to move in either direction, and is forced by the links to move with a very rapid motion in the opposite direction from that effected by theoperation of the rack, thus producing what is known as a quick-return.

The paring-knife R is of the usual form, V

but with a glass guard, for which I intend to make application for Letters Patent, and which, therefore, 1 do not describe further here, and it is attached to a bent rod, R, and a heelpiece, T, which is pivoted at r a little back of center line of knife-arm to cars forming part of the turn-table R. It is kept to its work by a spring, r", hooked to both knifearm and turn-table. The kniferod ris so set in the heel-piece 1' that it'can rotate a small portion of a revolution on its own axis independently of the motion of. the turntable. The spring r serves the double purpose of keeping the paring-knife at its work and bringing the knife back to its proper position after passing over irregularities upon the up ple. The spring rfiwhieh yields laterally as well as lengthwise, allows the knife to rotate in the heel-piece sufficiently to pass over the irregularity without difliculty or failure in its work. The knife-arm isp1*eve11ted from turning too far in eitherdirection by a pin, r, in the end of the arm, and stops formed by the sides of the recess in the heel piece r. This pin acts, also, to prevent the arm being withdrawn from the heel-piece.

The necessary rotary motion of the turntable is etfected by a spurwheel, R, with two parallel flat portions, 1", on which there are so as to readily enter into gear with the rack cut on the inside of the bar I? and to keep the wheel from turning while passing the smooth face of the spaces. At the beginning and end of the rack the teeth are also deeper,to permit the long teeth to enter. securely attached to the turn-table R,- and when in place gears with the rack P, which forms a part of the frame of the machine. As

. the carriage advances or retreats, the turnadvancing in the direction of its rotation be.- yond the proper point by a latch,V,operated by a lever, V, and spring V which lever is hit upon its inner end by a pin, g, on the wheel G once each revolntion.forcing the inner end out against the spring V and as it is pivot'ed at V" the outer end oflatch V recedes and allows the reel to turn forward. The spring V forces the latch back again into place,locking the reel during the operation of paring, &e. The rack is prevented from turning backward by a pawl, H, which passes over the edge of the wheel I, and falls into ratchetteeth cut at three equidistant points in its eireumference. \V is a thin wedge-shaped piece of metal screwed to the turn-table B, so that it can be pushed more or loss under the heel of the knife to adjust it to its proper position in regard to the forks. no teeth. The end teeth, 1, are made longer,

The absolute numbers oftieeth in each wheel may vary from those given above, but to make i the various parts ot'the machine work in proper The spur-wheel R is 7 the reel.

it remains stationary, the knife. meantime not rotating.

The slicing and coring knife Q, is similar to those in general use for such purposesmxcept in the important particular that it has below the coring-point q a prqieeting portion, 11*, integral with and in the same plane as the rest of the blade. This lower portion of the knife,by bearing on the cut surface of the apple below the center line ofthe fork,and thus avoiding oblique or bending strain, enables me to use a thin blade.which is desirable, because a thick blade will break up the apple. The bearing above and below also enables me to use the knife as'a push-oft.

The reel mechanism consists of a shaft, J, driven intermittently by means of the. toothed is driven by the main wheel and crank, and a faceplate, T, having cast with it three joui nal-bearings/l" T T, with one half of each re movable. A brass journal-box or bushing, I, is inserted in each, and through each of these bushings or boxes a hollow spindle, thpasses,

time they should be in the same relative position.

The operation of the machine is as follows: An apple is placed upon the fork which is in front and on a horizontal line with the axle of The crank is then turned over and to the right,in the direction indicated by the arrow, untilthelateh is withdrawn and the apple is brought in front of the paring-knife. The

latch slips into place,preventing the reel from moving fart-her forward. At the same time a pawl, H resting upon the periphery of the bevelwheel Ldrops into one of the-notches It, cut at three equidistant points. This prevents the reel turning backward. The reel being locked in position, and the crank being still rota.ted,the driving-wheel .D, meshing with the pinion l'i,turns with it the endless screw L'Zat each revolution moving the wheel N in the direction of the arrow one tooth, and this,gearing with the rack Rpulls the knife toward the apple. The wheel which is attached to the upper side of the t urntableR, and which has two bearing on its outer end a fork. The collar of the fork is recessed at its inner end, so that the bushii'igs run under it a short distance, to keep out dui-t, apple juice. center of each hollow spindle a puslroff rod, t, passes, the ends enlarged to hit against the apple-core and the push off lever. At the inner end of each spindle is also secured a spurwheel of fifteen teeth, M, which can mesh with a spnrwheel, U, driven by the main driving-wheel. The reel is prevented from Through the l l'lnt sides, commences to mesh with the rack cut on the inside of the bar P, and thus rotates the turn-table. carrying with it the paringknifo,

i which thus turns in the usual way around the arc g,forn'iing part of the spunwheel G, which reached the limit of its course in one direction, the fourteen teeth on one side of the wheel N have all passed, leaving the space in which six teeth are omitted, and the rack, being entirely free to slide upon the guide-rod P, is forced back ward by means of the levers S S" and the crank S, attached to the end of the axis of the wheel N, which atthis time is in the position shown in Fig. 2. The returnmotion is effected in about one quarter the time required for the cutting-stroke of the carriage, the quick return occurring during the time required to rotate the wheel N through the space of six teeth, fourteen teeth effecting the forward motion. During the forward or cutting-stroke of the carriage the wheel G is turning and carrying with it the toothed are or segment 9 toward the spurwhcel H. At the same time the bent lever K, attached to the wheel I, swinging around and passing through a slot in the frame 13, has hit the push-off pin t, and pushed the core from the fork, the apple having been previously removed by the slicing knife during the quick return of the carriage. The apple and core being out of the way, a new apple is placed upon the front fork, the latch is withdrawn by the pin 9 on the wheel G, the toothed segment or are 9 comes into gear with the spurwhen the operation goes on as before, each four complete turns of the crank paring, slicing, coring, removing the apple and core, and bringing the parts of the machine into position to begin upon the next apple.

is is the cam portion of the bent lever K.

The fork-bearings consist of a hollow spinle, t, through which the push-off rod t passes easily, inclosed in a piece of brass tube, t, which in its turn rests in the outer journalbox, 'I, made in halves, the portion Tbeing removable and held in place'by screws which clamp the brass-bearing securely in place.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apple-paring machine,an improved device for successively bringing the apples in front of the knives and holding them there long enough to complete the operations of paring, coring, and slicing, consisting of a revolving fork-bearing reel, in combination with a toothed are driven intermediately from the crank-axle, a latch for preventing the reel moving too far forward, and a pawl pressing against the notched edge of a wheel secured to the shaft, to which the reel is also secured, all substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the paring-knife carriage provided with a rack,(),and mounted to reciprocate in suitable guides of the frame, of the worm-shaft L,conneeted with the driving gearing, and having worm L",worm-whee1 N, gearing with rack O, and having a portion of its teeth cut away, as described. bent lever' S, pivoted to the machine-frame, link S pivoted to said lever and to the knife-carriage,

and the crank S, carried by the shaft of the worm-wheel N, substantially. as described.

3. The combination, with the reel provided with a series of fork-shafts, each having a central doffer-pin and mechanism for intermit-tingly rotating the reel, of the curved camlever K, bevel-pinion I, to which said lever is attached, and a gear for operating said pinion, substantially as described.

4. An improved coring and slicing knife for an apple-paring machine, having a portion of the main blade of the knife projecting below the coring-prong, for the purpose of forming an even bearing against the apple, as set forth and described.

5. In an apple-paring machine, the combination of a paring-knife and its supportingarm with a heel piece in which the supporting arm can turn freely through a small are, having its own axis for a center, the said motion being limited by a pin in the arm under the heel-piece abutting against stops or the sides of a recess, and a spiral spring attached to projecting points of both knife-arm and turn-table, operating to keep the arm in the central position of its possible motion, all constructed substantially as shown and de scribed.

6. In an appleparing machine, the combination of the paring-knife arm and heel 1' with the turn-table R and a wedgeshaped piece of metal, W, screwed to the turn-table,

so that it may be pushed more or less under the heel of the knife-arm for adjustment, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination of the intermittinglyrevolving fork-bearing reel T with the reciprocating knife-carriage P, driven during the cutting-stroke. by a rack, O, and pinion N, and during its return-stroke by a combination of links, S S, operated by a crank, S, upon the axis of the wheel N, all substantially as shown and described.

8. In an apple-paring machine, the combi: nation of the driving-pulley D, intermediate gears, D and G, revolving fork-reel T, intermittingly rotated by a toothed are,g, and held in place by the pawl H and automatic latch V, the paring-knife R, rotating with the turn- WILLIAM A. O. OAKS.

Witnesses:

C. S. ABBOTT, E. S. MoGoY. 

